Pinnacle Vistas - Fall 2023

PINNACLE VISTAS

ORGAN SCHOLAR

DR. ILONA KUBIACZYK-ADLER | p4

WHAT'S NEXT?

DR. WESLEY AVRAM | p8

TEN DAYS IN WINDSOR

REV. ERIK KHOOBYARIAN | p18

CONGREGANT STORYSUSAN ROSE

MIKE CONKLIN | p20

TRACINGS

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR, WES AVRAM

Dear friends in Christ,

A few years ago, our Fran Park Memorial Lecturer was Tod Bolsinger, from Fuller Seminary, who had recently written a book that was being widely read in the church, called Canoeing the Mountains. He explored a simple but challenging idea for the church, inspired by the journeys of Lewis and Clark: that when you set out sure of yourself and your direction, you will yet encounter unmapped territory that will require both fresh perspective and rooted creativity. You'll carry your canoe when you need to, find new boats when necessary, and enjoy open waters when they present themselves. The book has more in it than that, of course, but the course of it is pretty much there.

Over the summer, Lynne and I spent some time with family in St. Louis, during which we visited the place of the 1804 disembarkation of Lewis and Clark from familiar territory, off for their great adventure West. It's an interesting spot—notable, at least to me, by its ordinariness. Why that spot and not another? It's just a point on the river, no different from any other point. But a lot happened there.

And so it goes in the church. We embark on paths unknown in these rapidly changing times, into territory that is known to God even if it's yet to

be explored by us. We'll get off track along the way and face challenges, but by grace and grit we'll keep moving and finding and relying and learning and celebrating and mourning and changing. Every day we disembark so we can embark—every ordinary day— because God asks us to.

This issue of Vistas gently explores some of our disembarkation—from the ordinary into the new. You'll read about creativity in our music ministry, about one way we help the work of learning in the wider community, about what's been inspiring your pastors in their continuing education over the summer, about new ways ministers are being trained, about one of our own who's giving her talents to preserve Presbyterian witness, about renewing our sanctuary, and about a series of guest preachers planned for the fall responding to the question, What's Next?

Happy navigating!

Grace and Peace, Wes

DR. WESLEY AVRAM has served as Pastor at Pinnacle since 2009.

BEN SIDOTI

Pinnacle Organ Scholar

BY DR. ILONA KUBIACZYK-ADLER

It is with great joy that I share the news of establishing Pinnacle's Organ Scholar program. This exciting new offering aims at introducing exceptional young musicians to the field of church music, and is an excellent extension of our multifaceted music ministry.

Pinnacle's very own Benjamin Sidoti has been selected as our inaugural Organ Scholar. You very likely know Ben and his family. Ben's parents, Jacque Olmert and Brian Sidoti, have been active members of Pinnacle since 2004. Ben and his brothers, Joe and Matt, have grown up at Pinnacle, with all three boys attending Pinnacle's Preschool and participating in Pinnacle's children and youth programs. Allow me to share a little more about Ben with you.

Ben will be a senior at Cactus Shadows High School this fall. He started with piano lessons at the age of 9, and has been studying piano and organ with me since the fall of 2019. His lessons take place on both of our instruments: the Richards, Fowkes & Co. 3-manual tracker organ in the Sanctuary, and Schantz 2-manual electric action organ in the Chapel. Since these instruments are quite different, one being a historically informed instrument in a European style and the other a classical American instrument, Pinnacle is an ideal place to bring

up a new generation of versatile organists. Since the beginning of his organ study, Ben has been introduced to the differences in build and technique between these two instruments, and he has regular access to them for practice.

Since 2019, Ben has been the recipient of the Scholarship to Study Organ from the Central Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (CAZAGO). Since then he has performed at scholarship student concerts held on a variety of organs throughout the Phoenix area. He has been an active participant in CAZAGO organ workshops, as well as masterclasses with Isabelle Demers (organized by the Arizona Bach Festival) and Katelyn Emerson (co-organized by Pinnacle Concert Series and CAZAGO). He also performed for and consulted with several professional musicians and scholars including: John Brobeck and Pamela Decker at the University of Arizona, Lorraine Brugh from Valparaiso University, and Michael Barone, host of Pipedreams on the American Public Radio.

Ben has performed on the organ and piano during multiple Sunday worship services at Pinnacle, including major holidays. On occasion he has also served as the accompanist for the Pinnacle Chancel Choir. His musicianship is informed by other experiences.

For a couple of years he took private saxophone lessons, and he won the first chair during the AMEA High School Regional Festival in 2022. He has played lead saxophone in his high school band. As an active participant in the Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Youth Ensemble, Ben has also been trained to sing, play handbells, percussion, and steel drums.

As I am writing this article Ben is attending the Jacobs Organ Academy at Indiana University, receiving private lessons, and partaking in organ, church music, hymn playing and carillon masterclasses with professors Janette Fishell, Chris Young and Jeffrey Smith. He will also perform at a couple of recitals while there.

Ben is considering a double major in science and organ performance in college. Ben and I sat down for a conversation about the coming year.

IKA: Our readers have already learned a lot about you - your interest in music and organ is clearly visible in your impressive resume so far. As your teacher I have had a first-hand opportunity to observe your growth as a musician. Now I’d love for you to share your own perspective on how your interest in the organ began and grew.

Ben: Four years ago, I was looking for a new piano teacher and hoped to

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study with you, Dr. Adler. In addition to this, I started to play the organ out of curiosity, and was immediately captivated by the grandeur and power of our Richards & Fowkes organ at Pinnacle (which at the time I thought was typical of any church!). As I have matured in my organ playing, I now find making music one of the best and most satisfying ways to express myself. Because of this, music has become a source of joy in my life, helping me to center and ground through the adventures of high school and while navigating large decisions in my life. Particularly since my last CAZAGO scholarship recipient students’ recital at Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, I have become passionate about sharing my joy for organ music with others. In Indiana, I am further exploring organ performance, styles of playing, and different instruments, and greatly enjoy studying with incredible musicians who offer valuable feedback. I know that this experience, along with my curiosity about the organ, its history, and its music, will help me further my passion and broaden my knowledge.

IKA: Why are you considering majoring in both science and music?

Ben: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in astronomy. It’s something that fascinates me due to its complexity and the questions it raises surrounding my faith. Since both this and organ interest me to such a large extent, I am intrigued by the possibility of studying both. Perhaps somewhat

surprisingly, many schools I am interested in have programs that offer this combination of study. While I now am planning to pursue a dual degree, I am not set and expect my plans to change in some regard.

IKA: How do you feel about being offered the position of Pinnacle Organ Scholar? What skills do you look forward to developing while being the Organ Scholar?

Ben: I am ecstatic to take this new position to further my education

and experience in church music! I know the program will be demanding and balancing it with school will be challenging, but I know that I am ready and able to take on this role. I am particularly excited to continue playing hymns and leading the congregation and choir in worship; it really is an experience like no other, and essential for any organist. I also look forward to participating in the Pinnacle Concert Series and having an opportunity to perform larger pieces with professional musicians and ensembles.

IKA: Do you think working as an Organ Scholar at Pinnacle and simultaneously delivering all your class work in a busy senior year in high school will help you prepare to double major in college? What are your self-discipline and organizational strategies?

Ben: I absolutely believe that the workload that comes with this position will help prepare me for the workload of a dual degree student. Balancing all of my IB (International Baccalaureate) classes and tests at the end of the year, as well as the preparations for Sunday worship and my college applications will be a new challenge for me. Firstly, I plan on focusing almost exclusively on music and school work to mitigate other distractions. I will also work to use my time efficiently, so that my practice is productive and I avoid procrastination of school work as much as possible. Most of all, keeping the organ as a meditative and grounding practice will help me to manage future challenges and stress, and will encourage me to work to overcome these obstacles.

About the ORGAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM

Pinnacle Presbyterian Church has established the Organ Scholar program in order to fulfill our responsibility to grow, nurture, and teach faithful young people who will be musical leaders in the church. Our unique setting and staff have gifts to offer young musicians: a high quality music program, numerous ensembles and performance opportunities, a breadth of musical and worship styles, a strong history of excellence in worship and service to the community, and respected pastors and musicians who love to teach.

ILONA KUBIACZYK-ADLER serves as the Director of Ministries in Music and the Arts. She has degrees in music from universities in Poland, the Netherlands, and the US. As a concert organist, scholar and educator for over 25 years, she is deeply committed to training the next generation of young musicians. More information about Ilona's professional engagements can be found on kubiaczyk.pl.

The Pinnacle Organ Scholar will receive training in organ, piano, and conducting, will gain practical experience by performing a selected schedule of worship services, accompanying ensembles, participating in the Pinnacle Concert Series concerts, and will learn the rudiments of worship planning and administrative duties of a church musician.

The program is open to exceptional high schoolers and recent graduates of undergraduate and graduate organ/church music programs. In the coming years the program will be advertised locally and nationally, and it will be audition-based. For more information, please contact Dr. Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler at the church office 480-585-9448 or via email at ikadler@pinnaclepres.org

What's Next? Friendly Voices on the Future of the Church

BY WES AVRAM

As I look toward retirement in January, I'm taking a little pastoral privilege to have a kind of public conversation with some friends – good preachers each, faithful partners in ministry each, valued friends over the years each. It'll be a guest preacher each month beginning in August. And as each, but one, has actually been to Pinnacle before, they're your friends too. I'm touched by their willingness to be part of this series. And I'm grateful to Pinnacle for allowing me to shape this conversation.

One reason for the series is to get you used to a variety of voices from the pulpit, including and extending beyond your three talented associate pastors. This is in preparation for a new primary preacher. Another

reason is a chance for me to share with you (again) some folks I respect, and to share Pinnacle (again) with them. A larger reason is my desire to start a conversation I won't finish, but that I hope Pinnacle will continue in the years ahead. Pinnacle can, and should, have a voice in how Presbyterian witness to Christ will be shaped in the decades to come. You'll welcome new pastors, new members, new partners, and new friends into conversation as you join with folks all around the country, and all around the world, in asking "What's next for the church?" So that's the question I've asked each of these guests to ask as they prepare to visit. Each will preach, then join me in an informal conversation (the "two stools in front" kind of conversation)

after worship. They'll also be part of the Park Center's "Out of the Park" podcast series.

So who's coming? Well, the first preacher in the series closes a loop, as he preached at the service in which I was installed as the second Pastor of Pinnacle, in 2009. He's David Wood, recently retired after nearly fourteen

years as Pastor of the Glencoe Union Church, in Glencoe, Illinois (a little north of Chicago). David is a dear friend and has added indescribable value to my ministry, my faith, and my life. I'm glad to welcome him back. David's been Pastor or Associate Pastor in congregations in West Hartford, Connecticut; Lewiston, Maine; Paris, France; and Gardiner, Maine. He's been Associate Director of the Louisville Institute and Program Officer directing "transition into ministry" programs and more for the Lilly Endowment. In his quiet way, David has impacted a whole generation of Mainline church pastors. He'll share insights with us on August 27.

Shipley School to go to seminary. She's filled a number of ministry opportunities around Philadelphia in the years since. Her experience is unusual and her gifts extraordinary. She should have as many platforms as possible, so I'm glad to welcome her back to this one. You should know that Judith suggested Leah Quarles to us as a potential candidate for our pastoral staff – so more points added there!

Allen since we were divinity school faculty together in 2000. He's been Pastor, Co-Pastor, or Associate Pastor for congregations in New Canaan, Seattle, Wayzata, and for the last several years has directed House United Ministries in his work on ideological and theological reconciliation in a divided church.

Our second preacher, on September 17, will be Judith Brackett. Judith preached at Pinnacle in 2015 and I often channel her ideas (knowing she'd say it better!). Lynne and I met Judith and her family when I was Pastor of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. I experienced her as an extraordinarily gifted teacher, thinker, poet, cook, and friend. Then she up and decided to leave a long career teaching at the

Our third preacher is very familiar to many at Pinnacle, as we'll welcome our own Allen Hilton back on November 26. A while back, Allen spent a year as a halftime staff-member in education at Pinnacle, helping us shape the program of the Park Center. He's been a regular visitor in the years since. Allen helped the Park Center shape a pattern of Bible study and hone out skills in peaceably talking about important matters in our "courageous conversations." He's preached, led retreats, and made us more thoughtful. It's been a while since we've seen him, so it seems right to have him back. I've known

As our fourth preacher, we'll be honored to welcome the new President of Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS), Jonathan Walton, on December 3. President Walton will be visiting Pinnacle for his first time, aware of how much we've valued our growing relationship with the seminary he now leads. Your pastoral staff represents four generations of students at the seminary and Brandon Huenemann recently completed a Certificate in Youth and Theology from there. Pinnacle and the Park Center have twice hosted whole classes from the seminary to be in residence here—giving us great riches. We've hosted faculty members and led two

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BY CHAPIN BELL

Earlier this summer our Pinnacle Sanctuary was filled with a sound that had been absent for a few years –flowing water! Over the past several months, the two water features (one outside and one inside) that were dormant for several years were completely rehabilitated and are now operational, improving on the design and the functionality that will last for years to come.

Appropriately, the water feature was re-dedicated by Dr. Wes Avram during a worship service where the scripture text Rev. Leah Quarles preached from was Psalm 1 which includes: “they are like trees planted by streams of water.” Dr. Avram offered thanksgiving for the

designated financial contributions from individuals who made this project possible and prayed that the fountain would contribute to the worship life of our community. And then the water started flowing once again!

Several of our more recent members and attendees did not know that the rocks at the base of the cross were actually a water feature, so it was particularly exciting for them. The inside water feature had been emptied for a few years after a couple of significant water leaks had caused damage to the chancel floor. It was determined that unless the leaks could be prevented, the water would not be possible. Not one to accept

impossibility, Facilities Ministry Group member Joe Kaiser began to research ways to make it possible.

After many conversations with contractors, Joe ultimately connected with Chad Warner, the owner of Fountain Rescue in Cave Creek. Interestingly, when Chad was a teenager he worked with his family business on the original installation! In part because of this legacy, Chad was enthusiastic about working with Pinnacle on the rehabilitation of both the outdoor and indoor water features.

The first project was the redesign and repair of the outside feature. Chad and his crew jackhammered out the

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

(Isaiah 35:6, etched on the entry doors to the Sanctuary)

old fountain and then designed and installed a new, two-level feature with a gentle flow evocative of the waterways through the Sonoran Desert. The windows and walls were also waterproofed and a new pump system installed.

The next step was the rehabilitation of the inside water feature. This was a little more complicated in order to protect the cross, and particularly the ironwood base of the cross, while also ensuring the waterproofing. Chad and his crew worked primarily in the overnight hours (to avoid disruption to our programming) over a few weeks to remove some of the old rock and then create a new sealed layer.

The result is beautiful and creates the appearance of water flowing from the outside into our Sanctuary bringing baptismal waters to the base of the cross, our tree of life!

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cohorts of adults as they completed the seminary's online Certificate in Theology and Ministry. President Walton's voice will be welcomed. Most recently a Dean at the Wake Forest School University School of Divinity, Jonathan has also served as the Chaplain to Harvard University, and Plummer Professor at Harvard University. He holds both a PhD and an MDiv from PTS and is a widely regarded author.

each encouraging, each striving to be faithful, and each deeply informed by a life of learning, serving, preaching, and worshipping. He has always been a teacher. It is one of the honors of my ministry to be able to count him, in some small way, as a friend.

So . . . What's Next? These friends might help us think about that.

Fall Guest Preachers

August 27

Rev. David Wood

CHAPIN BELL has been a member of Pinnacle since 2004 and currently serves as Elder on Session and Moderator of the Facilities Ministry Group.

Our fifth, and final, guest preacher, on January 7, will be Will Willimon He was our Fran Park Memorial Preacher in October of 2019. It's easy to say that Will Willimon is one of the most widely known and highly regarded preachers, teachers, and thinkers in the Protestant world. For many years Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, then United Methodist Bishop of Northern Alabama, he returned to Duke to teach and write at the Divinity School. Will has authored over 70 books and countless articles – each challenging,

September 17

Rev. Judith Brackett

November 26

Dr. Allen Hilton

December 3

Dr. Jonathan Walton

January 7

Dr. Will Willimon

Conversations on the Future of Congregational Ministry with our Guest Preachers

11:15 am | Fellowship Hall

DR. WESLEY AVRAM has served as Pastor at Pinnacle since 2009.

Long days and warmer temperatures often provide extra opportunities for rest, relaxation and reading. We recently asked Pinnacle Pastors and program staff to share their recommendation from their summer reading.

SUMMER READING

Recommended by Wes Avram

The serious side: One of my dear colleagues from years teaching was theologian David Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School. Presbyterian, his thinking stretches deep in Christian tradition. He's still writing at 90 (!). I was asked by the online journal, Syndicate, to write a pastor's response to his most recent book. Anything for David! Human Anguish and God's Power is a complex exploration of a very simple pastoral question: How may pastors speak to people in anguish, or suffering in the presence of others' anguish, without betraying either our Christian understanding of God or our desire to care? Is it right, in the face of anguish, to simply reassure by saying "God is in charge," or "God had a reason," or other things that seem to make God responsible for tragedy? Or should we do better than that? Why do we worship God–because of what we think God does for us or because of who God is in Godself? What do we mean when we speak of God's glory, and how does

the glory of God relate to God's power or God's sovereignty? Should we do more than stammer when speaking of God and God's promise of blessing in the echoes of suffering? If more pastors read this book, I think our preaching would be more honest and less cliche, our care more Christian, our teaching more faithful. And so I read. And so I wrote. It was a great, if challenging, summer read.

The less ponderous side: I read every issue of the local newspaper in Lincoln County, Maine, The Lincoln County News, that came out during weeks I was in Maine— advertisements, news, minutes of town meetings, notices of church dinners, features. It was delightful. The News is a living example of what a small local paper can be.

WES' NEXT READ: When the Church Stops Working by Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand (Brazos, 2023).

Recommended by Mike Hegeman

A good book can be transportative, taking us into other worlds and setting us on grand adventures. Books I have read this summer do this very thing, but I am not sure I want to live in these “other worlds.” Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng, takes us into an alternative present, one in which books are easily banned and children are made to “disappear” if the government deems that the parents’ views wander into the territory of “cultural terrorism.” This book is a stern warning that we could too easily wander into such a timeline.

Babel or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang, sets us down in mid-nineteenth-century Oxford, England. This is an alternative history in which magic helps the spread of empire, and four, young, Oxford translation scholars, from the four corners of the globe, are challenged to reassess their connection to the devastation of colonialism. Stunningly written, these two books, are a chilling reminder of both the dark and redemptive power of the written word.

MIKE'S NEXT READ: What We Remember Will be Saved (2023), by Stephanie Saldaña.

Recommended by Erik Khoobyarian

What does the word “grace” mean to you? Grace is a significant part of the Christian doctrine, but it can be a bit nebulous and confusing. The reality, though, is that we each experience grace all around us even if we don’t have the language to articulate it. Christopher Jamison is a Benedictine Abbott (leader within the monastic order) and guides the reader through practical approaches to an awareness and understanding of grace in our everyday lives. In Finding the Language of Grace - Rediscovering Transcendence Abbot Jamison uses a variety of examples of how grace has been experienced by others in a way that draws out our own experiences. I found myself torn between wanting to read quickly to the next examples and wanting to stop and reflect. This would be a good read for a small group or even with a friend or two.

ERIK’S NEXT READ: Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus’s Greatest Miracle by James Martin (to be released on September 5!). I have been waiting for this book about Lazarus written by one of my favorite authors and theologians.

Recommended by Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler

Performing Fanny Mendelssohn’s (1805-1847) compositions inspired me to search for quality biographies. While more scholarly research has surfaced since Tillard’s book was published, it holds up as a fascinating source of information on the Mendelssohn family, lives and times. Fanny was, as was her brother Felix, an accomplished and well-trained musician, who composed, performed and eventually published some of her music during her short lifetime. The complex religious landscape of 19th-century Germany, with all its tensions thoroughly depicted by Tillard, had a major tangible impact on Mendelssohns. Furthermore, the rigid societal structures and divisions give more insight why Fanny’s art was pressured to be confined primarily to her own living room. The book is well balanced as far as classical music lingo and captivating stories. This great read led me to realize time and again that understanding one’s art cannot be separated from learning about the artist’s upbringing, social standing, political and religious landscape they experienced.

ILONA'S NEXT READ: “The Heart of a Woman: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price” by Rae Linda Brown.

Recommended by Kelly McGinn

One of 2018’s most popular books, this novel by Heather Morris is based on three years of conversations with charming Jewish businessman, Lale Sokolov, an Auschwitz survivor. Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, imprisoned in 1942, was given the task of tattooing ID numbers on thousands of new arrivals. Because Sokolov was highly educated and spoke many languages, he was afforded more privileges than his fellow prisoners. He was able to exchange money and jewels to help keep his friends alive amid the horrors of the camp. One day in July 1942, Lale Sokolov, prisoner 32407, comforted a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Sokolov vowed to somehow survive the camp and marry her. Their journey is a true testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

KELLY'S NEXT READ: The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. A true story of master thief Stéphane Breitwieser who carried out more than two hundred heists over nearly eight years—in museums and cathedrals all over Europe.

This coming-of-age story takes place at River Valley, a boarding school for deaf students. The title is a common A.S.L. term meaning “real talk” or “seriously.” Each chapter is written from the perspective of the students. From how to sign lessons to learning about cochlear implants, for those of us in the hearing community, this book is not only a great read, it's a lesson about the complexities of the deaf community and their unique challenges. No wonder this book is a New York Times Best Seller and recommended by Michelle Obama, Reese Witherspoon, Busy Philipps and more!

The Creator in You, by Jordan Raynor

This beautifully illustrated children’s book is a feast for the eyes no matter your age. Reminding readers they are created in the image of The Creator God and exploring how to create as well.

LEAH'S NEXT READ: The Story of God, the Story of Us by Sean Gladding.

Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep written by Tish Harrison Warren was a book that I enjoyed more and more the further I dove in. It was written just before the pandemic, but it feels like a very timely book for the postpandemic culture. This book is an incredibly intelligent and beautiful exploration of when prayer may be needed, and the types of prayer that one may reach for during especially difficult trials. Tish focused on prayer in times of grief, loss, mourning, and life’s challenges in her personal life and within her family experiences in a delicately elegant and so necessary way. I especially liked her anecdotes on prayer throughout history and references to popular songs in our culture. Enjoy!

LIZ'S NEXT READ: Remember God by Annie F. Downs. A friend recommended it as a good reminder about the trustworthy nature and kindness of God.

I am a HUGE reader of all things sci-fi and fantasy and I recently finished V. E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic. A friend suggested this read for me and I just tore through it. The world building is top-notch and Schwab’s mechanics of magic is very creative. The story is set in four parallel Londons with plenty of cheeky dialogue, actiondrama, magical battles, and a strong urge to visit Red London for yourself. I highly recommend this story for anyone searching for a bit of adventure.

TOMMY'S NEXT READ: for me will clearly be the sequel, A Gathering of Shadows

Recommended by Leah Quarles

Recommended by Liz Smith

Recommended by Tommy Strawser

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HER LIFE

NOAH WEBSTER SCHOOLS

BY CONNIE THOMPSON

The Partners in Education Committee, a sub-committee of the Pinnacle's Local and Global Ministries Group, launched some new mission work this school year. This committee focuses on supporting the education of children and youth.

The committee identified a new mission project by exploring 15 possibilities. After much exploration, Pinnacle approved Noah Webster Schools as an official mission partner.

Noah Webster Schools are Title I, 501.c.3 qualified schools with a majority of students being from low-income families and even some children from homeless families. The two Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade schools are technologically advanced, non-profit, public, tuition-free, charter schools.

These two schools have a very ethnically diverse student population. Also, one-third of the students at the Pima Campus are Native Americans. The Pima school is built in Scottsdale on land of the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community.

Both NWS schools are wellestablished and successful in educating students, as well as financially stable, although financial help supports ever-expanding improvements. The Mesa Campus has been open for 25 years and is

located at 7301 E. Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85209. The Pima Campus, located at 5399 N. Pima, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, has been open for eight years.

The schools’ needs for volunteer help match nicely with the kind of and amount of volunteer support that Pinnacle can provide.

Fall Book Fair (earns points used to buy books for the school libraries). Volunteers help students select ageappropriate selections, make a wish list, count their money, and estimate the cost of their choices.

Holiday Gift Shop (provides a safe, economical place for students to shop for family gifts) Volunteers help students count their money, select gifts in their price range, and encourage thinking what the recipient would like.

Creative Art Contest (encourages creative expression through art) Volunteers distribute pencils and papers, encourage creativity, collect drawings, and evaluate creativeness of pictures from each grade level.

In our first year, Pinnacle established a core group of about twenty volunteers involved with this mission partner. Volunteers want to volunteer again after their first visit to the schools, They find the experience to be fun and rewarding! The children are well behaved, polite, eager to learn, and grateful for Pinnacle volunteer support. Consider getting involved with these engaging children.

Pinnacle volunteers support four activities per school year at each school:

Spring Book Fair (earns points used to buy books for the school libraries) Volunteers give the same support as for the Fall Book Fairs.

Feedback from Noah Webster Schools staff and students communicates that Pinnacle volunteers are making a positive difference in the lives of these appreciative children. Pinnacle financial donations are also helping to meet important, ever-expanding needs of the schools. Financial aid provided this year totaled $6,000 and included:

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TEN DAYS IN

WINDSOR WINDSOR

BY REV. ERIK KHOOBYARIAN

You do not need to spend much time with me before you’ll hear me talk about removing the partitions in our lives that seem to separate our faith from other aspects of life. These partitions occur naturally and we also create them. We’ve been conditioned to not talk about our faith, especially in the business world or in social circles. And while this makes sense much of the time, removing partitions does not mean necessarily using words. Fundamentally, living an integrated life means that our faith informs how we interact with others and how we see the world.

Given that this has been a predominant theme of my ministry and life, it was unsurprising that

when I saw the theme of the clergy consultation program at St. George’s House I was immediately drawn in: God: Some Conversations – How Do You Speak About God? The purpose of the ten-day program was to consider how best to speak about God in the face of issues facing the contemporary world.

The clergy consultation program at St. George’s House began as a way to provide clergy with a place for renewal, refreshment, and intellectual engagement in a space that is set apart by confidentiality and freedom of thought. St George’s House was founded in 1966 by The Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) and the Dean of Windsor Robin

Woods. Since then, St. George’s House has gathered clergy as well as individuals from across society to wrestle with issues of national and international significance.

St. George’s House is part of the Windsor Castle community and specifically the religious center of the Castle, St. George’s Chapel. Upon my arrival at St. George’s House on July 2, 2023, I began to meet the other 24 clergy who were a part of our program. We gathered in the sitting room for afternoon tea which would become a daily highlight for conversation and checking in with one another. Almost immediately after tea it was time for our first choral evensong service in St. George’s Chapel. The

Chapel would become the center of our worship and prayer three times a day in between lectures, Bible studies, and discussions.

Construction of St. George’s Chapel began in 1475 and was completed by Henry VIII in 1528 and since then has been, with some disruptions, the chapel of The Royal Family. It is the resting place of several monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II. There is so much history in that space, and I’ll admit that on our first day I was a bit overwhelmed. But that first evening, in our first worship service, my perspective quickly began to change as I started to worship with a group with whom I would journey for ten days. By our last time together in prayer in the Chapel, I was filled

with poignance not because of what the space had been for more than 500 years, but what it had been for me and for us for 10 days.

Each day, we gathered to discuss a different topic related to our contemporary world. Following

morning worship, we began each day in our small groups discussing a scripture lesson for the day. One of us led the discussion each day, and then our second discussion was about a book or movie related to the same topic. These discussions also gave us the opportunity to share ourselves with our small group. We had robust discussions! The next two hours of our morning involved presentations from an expert on the topic (topics included, trade relations with China, ownership of art and artifacts, grace in disagreement). Discussion often carried over into the dining room at lunch. The afternoon was dedicated to a daily presentation of a paper from one member of our group and then discussion about the paper and feedback from the group members. Finally, we spent some time in our small groups synthesizing each aspect of the day as we asked ourselves the recurring question: how do we speak about God?

I left St. George’s House refreshed and ready to return to ministry even more enthusiastic about helping others speak about God and reflect on their faith in the midst of all that we encounter in life.

THE REV. ERIK KHOOBYARIAN has served as Pinnacle's Executive Associate Pastor since June 2022.

PHOTOS: Page 18 - Windsor Castle, page 19 left, Erik's small group; top, full study group; and St. George's Chapel.

FOUNDATION BUILDING A STRONG Susan Rose

BY MIKE CONKLIN

Susan Rose feels fortunate. “It’s a nice feeling when your professional career can be useful in retirement,” she said. In her case, useful is an understatement.

Retired as a managing director for DeLoitte & Touche, LLP, one of the world’s top accounting and professional service firms, Susan is currently serving as a Pinnacle Presbyterian Elder working with

our Finance Ministry Group. This is a broad, hands-on mandate, overseeing the church’s financial functions so that Session and the Congregation have confidence in its reporting.

But Susan’s Presbyterian participation hardly stops there. Overlapping with the above commitment she also is a trustee on the governing board of the Presbyterian Foundation which

manages funds held for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its member congregations.

“We have many members who serve in national roles in nonprofits outside the church,” said Dr. Wesley Avram, senior pastor and director of the Park Center. “I don’t think we’ve had any layperson serve, as Susan is, on a national denominational body. She gave us

strong financial leadership alongside James Lipscomb (treasurer) and staff through and after the pandemic.”

The Presbyterian Foundation exists to gather and manage financial resources in order to further Christ’s mission in the world. This is a lofty goal! How do they do this? Primarily, the Foundation works with donors, churches, and the national denomination to provide structure and support, as well as legal and accounting oversight, for the nearly $3 billion in assets they work with. In 2021 they distributed nearly $100 million to mission and processing contributions from 25,000 donors.

are maximized over the long term, providing the largest distributions possible to the beneficiaries (a primary one being the Presbyterian Mission Agency of PCUSA), and balancing those two parts to preserve the principal so that we can continue to make distributions in perpetuity.

“So, as a board member, we oversee those processes, along with making sure the Foundation complies with donor’s stipulations as to how the funds are to be used,” she added. Sometimes this includes very creative and complex decisions, guided by legal counsel, to make adjustments to the way that funds are utilized, especially when the original contributions may have been received more than a hundred years ago when priorities and needs were different.

of our members will be invited to serve in these ways, and it’s good that Susan is setting the example.”

Susan’s work on the Foundation Board is an important part of this significant operation. Susan shares that this work involves several moving parts. These include investing those donations so that returns

Susan and her husband, Bob, reside in Scottsdale. For DeLoitte’s National Audit Group, her primary responsibilities included developing policies, procedures and training for audits by the firm’s U.S. auditors. Her career in public accounting included a stint as a director at the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) in New York.

“As Pinnacle becomes better known as one of the stronger congregations in the denomination,” said Rev. Avram, “I can only predict that more

You can learn more about the Presbyterian Foundation at presbyterianfoundation.org.

MIKE CONKLIN, a member of Pinnacle since 2013 with his wife, Diane, was a long-time Chicago Tribune journalist. He left the Tribune to join the DePaul University faculty, where he taught and helped found its journalism department. Now he teaches parttime, writes, volunteers and hikes a lot.

PHOTO: Page 20 - Members of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Foundation posed for a group photo at a recent board meeting. Photo credit: Gregg Brekke for the Presbyterian Foundation.

the

Changing Faces of Presbyterian Seminaries

BY MIKE HEGEMAN

The term “seminary” designates a type of school dedicated to the spiritual, moral, and intellectual formation of people preparing for ministry. The word is derived (and I only learned this recently) from the Latin seminarium, which was originally used for a place where young seedlings were prepared for eventual transplantation. The term has been in use for about 500 years, instituted during a time when education for Roman Catholic

clergy was relatively poor and the new Protestant movements were outdoing their Catholic counterparts in training ministers in Hebrew, Greek, theology and church history.

After a few years of rigorous training, seminarians were sent out as liturgical “seedlings” ready to be transplanted in the world, to bring the Word and service of God to the people. Five hundred years ago, these seedlings were all men. The faces attending seminary have changed a

lot in 500 years (more than 50% of Protestant seminarians are women), as have the identities of those who lead those seminaries.

Twelve seminaries and theological schools are affiliated with our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA). In a once-in-ageneration convergence of timing, over the past year or so, seven of these institutions have selected new presidents. Those of us who follow theological education in

the denomination were waiting with some anticipation to see what would come of these transitions, and after lengthy searches, the results are exciting for the future.

The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline E. Lapsley was recently named the eighth president of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, in February of this year. Dr. Lapsley is the first woman to lead the seminary in its 211-year history. She was the first woman to serve as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Princeton Theological Seminary, a position she had held since 2018. Dr. Lapsley earned her Ph.D. in Old Testament studies from Emory University and had been a muchloved professor of Old Testament at Princeton Seminary. She has a “bold” vision for seminary education that is rooted in the Reformed Tradition and reflects “the diversity of the world God creates, redeems, and sustains” in order to shape a diverse set of leaders “for the world God so loves.”

Speaking of Princeton Theological Seminary, they too have a new president. The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton has just begun his term as president of this historic seminary, and is the first African American to hold that position. Dr. Walton is trained as a social ethicist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of evangelical Christianity, mass media, and political culture. Walton has published widely across various academic genres, including books, journal articles, in magazines and in papers. Both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are from Princeton Seminary and he served as the dean of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity where he occupied the Presidential Chair in Religion and Society. Walton is an ordained Baptist minister, and his appointment to Princeton reflects the changing population at the seminary, fewer than 50% of which is now strictly Presbyterian. Walton

says, “The church is changing. Society is changing. So, we need clear-minded, faith-informed professionals who can speak of hope, equity and healing in all fields of human endeavor.” [note: Dr. Walton will be preaching at Pinnacle on December 3.]

In June of 2022 Dr. José Ramon Irizarry was named the 10th president of Austin Theological Seminary. Since 2016, Dr. Irizarry had served as Vice President of Education at the Board of Pensions (PCUSA). He is a scholar in the field of practical theology and had taught at numerous theological institutions, including the Pacific School of Religion, McCormick Theological Seminary, and the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. Having an extensive background in the international church, Irizarry has a hopeful vision for the future of the seminary, where he leads students and faculty in “listening to how God’s dreams are already emerging within us, so God can guide us in fulfilling those

continued on page 24

princeton theological seminary rev. dr. jonathan lee walton

austin presb. theological seminary the rev. dr. josé ramon irizarry

union presbyterian seminary the rev. dr. jacqueline e. lapsley

dreams in vibrant transformation of faith-filled communities and society.”

first calls, and the church provided the setting for 62 seminarians to do their field education. The growth of the Spanish-speaking church in the US means that seminaries need to engage seminarians from these churches and prepare them for the changing face of American Protestantism.

article, so he wins points with me!), and he used to play organ at his home church. One aspect of Christ’s message most important to Asa is the “love of neighbor.” He says, “Neighbor is a spiritual concept…we need to engage our neighbors who are right in front of us in order to understand Jesus’ call to love.” Asa holds that transcending boundaries and building relationships for the good of Pittsburgh will help seminarians engage their neighbors wherever they go to answer God’s call to ministry.

Columbia Theological Seminary

(Decatur, Georgia) named The Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo as their 11th president, serving in that position now since August of 2022. Dr. Aloyo, a long-time employee of Princeton Theological Seminary and serving concurrently as a PCUSA pastor, “brings a passion for God’s work in the church and the world that resonates with [the seminary’s] deep commitment to preparing leaders.” Dr. Aloyo had served as the chief strategist on matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Princeton Seminary, establishing goals, objectives and assessment criteria to strengthen multicultural relations and foster “anti-racism” platforms that deal with power, privilege, and justice. Through his tenure at La Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras, twelve candidates for ministry were fostered through their time in seminary and into their

The Rev. Dr. Asa J. Lee in the fall of 2021 was named the 7th president of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. “Asa” as he prefers to be called, is an ordained Baptist minister and is the first African American to lead this seminary. He represents the changing demographics of Presbyterian seminaries, and that dynamic change is called “ecumenism.” The seminary’s student body is made up of multiple denominations, including, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Congregationalist and Baptist. Asa himself is married to a Methodist minister, and their four daughters attend Catholic school. Asa holds a degree in Music Education (as does the author of this

At the end of May, Louisville Seminary named The Rev. Dr. Andrew Pomerville as the incoming 11th president. Dr. Pomerville brings to the seminary a successful background in both higher education and ecumenical parish ministry, defined by innovation, energy, and joyful communication as an executive administrator, chaplain, and senior pastor. What makes Andrew unique is his age. Only in

columbia presbyterian seminary the rev. dr. victor aloyo

pittsburgh presbyterian seminary the rev. dr. asa j. lee

louisville seminary the rev. dr. andrew pomerville

his mid-forties, he brings a youthful energy and enthusiasm to the work of preparing seminarians for church leadership.

continued from page 17

Angel Tree ($500 each to three homeless families with children in Noah Webster Schools)

Alternative Gift Market ($900 provided an electronic pencil sharpener for each classroom)

Arizona Qualified Public School Tax Credit ($900 for Mesa Campus and $2,700 for Pima Campus)

CONNIE THOMPSON and her husband, John, have been active members of Pinnacle since 2006. Connie serves on the Local and Global Ministries Committee and is a retired school teacher.

McCormick Seminary also named its 11th president a couple of years ago: David Crawford, an ordained PCUSA ruling elder, brings his background in law and technology and environmentally sustainable business consulting to intersect with the theological work of helping seminaries engage the real world in which they will serve.

Seminaries began as places to train and support “seedling” theologians, liturgists, and pastoral leaders. Today seminarians have to prepare these new leaders for a swiftly changing world. Seminary presidents have big responsibilities on their shoulders. We can, as the church, pray for them and the important work they do.

If you’d like to become more involved in this enjoyable mission work where your time will be well spent, contact us at nws@pinnaclepres.org. And watch for volunteer opportunities in the church's mid-week enewsletter and the Sunday morning Our Common Life bulletin insert.

MIKE HEGEMAN serves Pinnacle as Associate Pastor for Education and the Assistant Dir. of the Park Center.

mccormick theological seminary david crawford

PHOTOS: Page 16-17 & 25 courtesy of Noah Websters Schools.

JENNIFER BROWN meet Pinnacle's new Executive Assistant to the Associate Pastors

Q. Where did you grow up?

A. Santa Rosa, California.

Q. Are you a dog or cat person?

A. Both, grew up with dogs but I got my first cat this year and loving being a cat person.

Q. What is your best-loved book or movie?

A. Absolute favorite movie EVER is "50 First Dates."

Q. What would others be surprised to learn about you?

A. I was born at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.

If you see Jenn on Sunday mornings, be sure to say hi and let her know if you need anything.

ONLINE BOOK STUDY

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan with Dr. Mike Hegeman

PINNACLE PEEPS UPCOMING THIS FALL

Thursdays, Aug. 17 & 31 | 5 pm | Online via Zoom*

DEAD SEA SCROLLS LECTURE with REV. MIKE HEGEMAN

Sunday, August 20 | 9 am | Chapel Library

LUNCH & LEARN with PASTOR ERIK

Sunday, August 20 | 11:30 am | FH Room 4

FAITH AND... SERIES

Hosted by Dr. Mike Hegeman

Sundays, Aug. 27 - Sept. 17 | 9 am | Chapel Library

CHRISTIANITY 201 - GROWING IN FAITH

Sundays, Sept. 24 - Dec. 17 | 9 am | Chapel Library

DISCOVERING COMMUNION TOGETHER

Thursday, Sept. 28 | 5 - 7 pm | Fellowship Hall

PARK CENTER MEMORIAL LECTURE with STEPHANIE SALDANA

Sunday, Oct. 1 | 11:30 am | Fellowship Hall

WALKING THE LIVING STONES

Learning about the Holy Land

Wednesdays Sept. 13 - Oct. 18 | 5:30 pm | Chapel Library/Online via Zoom*

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Tuesdays, Oct. 17 - Nov. 14 & 28 | 10 am | Chapel Library

*Contact the Park Center for Zoom link at fpc@pinnaclepres.org

THE ANIMALS BLESSING OF

Saturday, October 7 | 9:30 am | Chapel Garden

Being a member of Pinnacle is an invitation to be part of a family that together strives to live out our biblical responsibilities to love, serve and encourage.

2023 Confirmands

Meet Our Newest Members NEW CONNECTIONS

Sunday, September 10 11:30 am | Fellowship Hall Rm. 4

Taylor & Reed Davis children: Deacon & Wright

Julie & Tom Oyan

Audrey Bush Morgan Everton Ryan Glodowski

Audrey Hart Caroline Jones Julia Matura Ciana Mattingly

Jackson & Kathleen Fonder

Not photographed Lynn Ballinger, Chuck Ballinger, David Mulumba, Dylan Mulumba

Pinnacle Concert Series

All concerts and events are free of charge, with the exception of our two guest presentations from Phoenix Symphony and Arizona Musicfest.

2023 - 2024 Concert Calendar

Sunday, Sept. 10 | 3 pm

CHAMbeR MuSiC iN tHe CHAPeL Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen

Sunday, Sept. 24 | 3 pm

Charles Frost - Organ Concert with Hymn Singing

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 7 pm Phantom of the Organ

Sunday, Nov. 12 | 3 pm Veterans Day Tribute

Sunday, Dec. 10 | 4 & 7 pm Celebration of Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 16 | 7:30 pm

Sunday, Dec. 17 | 3 pm

Phoenix Symphony Handel's Messiah tickets.phoenixsymphony.org

Saturday, Sept. 23 | 9 am - noon

Workshop on Glory to God Hymnal with Charles Frost

pinnacleconcerts.org

Sunday, Jan. 14 | 3 pm The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Sunday, Jan. 28 | 3 pm

Organ Music From Around the World with Calvert Johnson

Saturday, Feb. 10 | 3 pm

MuSiC ON tHe PAtiO Bluegrass and the Sonoran Dogs

Sunday, Feb. 18 | 3 pm

CHAMbeR MuSiC iN tHe CHAPeL Fire & Passion - Solo, Duo, Trio

Saturday, Mar. 16 | 2 pm Phoenix Boys Choir Sounds of Ascent

Monday, Mar. 25 | 7:30 pm

Arizona Musicfest Ladysmith Black Mambazo tickets: azmusicfest.org

Good Friday, Mar. 29 | 7 pm Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest

Sunday, Apr. 21 | 3 pm

Hózhó - Beauty and Balance with Crista Miller

Sunday, Jun. 23 | 3 pm Benjamin Sidoti Pinnacle Organ Scholar Recital

2023 - 2024 Workshop Calendar

Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9 am - noon

Workshop on Music of Florence Beatrice Price with Calvert Johnson

Saturday, May 18 | 9:30 am - 5 pm

National Musforum Conference: Women in the West